Overheated shipped eggs still viable? =(

[phoenixbantam]

I bought some button quail eggs on ebay, and for some reason the shipper waited several days to ship them after I paid for them so now I will be getting them on saturday, and I work weekends

I live in south Florida and its pretty hot here. No one is going to be home to receieve the package. It's supposed to be 94 degrees tomorrow, if they have to sit for a few hours in the shade until I get home, is that going to mess them up? Should I let them cool off before incubating or put them straight into the incubator when I get home? Please tell me they will still have a chance at hatching...

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I say they still will have a chance of hatching. I've never hatched out quail but I have shipped out chicken eggs before and they got lost in the mail for a week when going to LA and they hatched out just fine. Let them rest and come to your home temps before setting in the bator. My opinion.

 

[jvls1942]

why would they not hatch?? as long as the temp does not go over 103 F
granted, it is not the best scenerio, but I don't think it is fatal

the part that I would question is why did the shipper hold them so long??

I would not let them cool off too much, but maybe rest a while before starting to turn them.

you can do what you want... what I would do is put them into a ready incubator but not turn them for the first day or two..

 

[suburbanminifarm]

IMO you should have a neighbor bring them in for you, OR call your post office and have them hold them for you or something......this same thing happened to me 20 days ago, and now upon candling hardly any developed (like 8 out of 18.) I am blaming it on sitting outside on the porch on a hot day, and then a cool night, before begining incubating. Just my opinion, everything I have read recommends keeping eggs in a cool place if not incubating right away. I shall see this weekend when they are due to hatch if any made it, some have weird air cells so I'm not confident.

 

[speckledhen]

Heat will kill hatchability far faster than cold. I'd say if they sit out, they may not hatch or at least, your chances will be greatly diminished.